China Tops World Patent Applications for Graphene Technology

China is one of the world's most dynamic innovators in the research and application of graphene technology, contributing more than half of the global patent applications in the sector, according to a report recently unveiled by the China Innovation Alliance of the Graphene Industry.

According to the Global Graphene Industry Report 2017, 58 percent of the world's graphene patent applications are from China. There are also 76 applicants that have at least 60 applications each in the sector, and 49 of them are from China.

With unique electronic, optical and thermal properties, graphene was listed as a new material with great importance for industrial development in the national science and technology innovation program for the 13th Five-Year Plan period (2016-20), which was issued by the State Council in July 2016.

The report said that China's graphene market value was worth more than 4 billion yuan ($610.8 million) in 2016, and expected the number to exceed 10 billion yuan in 2017. It estimated the global graphene market value will reach 100 billion yuan by 2020.

By the end of last year, about 4,800 companies in China were involved in graphene-related businesses.